zeo_max

So I'll soon be moving to my first place as a young professional, so all of a sudden this has become a concern. I'm probably gonna be renting an apartment in a high rise building. I'm a Mountain Biker, and I'm concerned if carrying the MTB up and down the building is gonna be a problem.

Two main points of concern:

1) After a ride I could come back with the bike's tires covered in mud. Do you think this would infuriate the landlord, for possible messes it could make ?

2) Would I have to take the stairs every time to get the bike down and up ?

So does anybody here have any experience with this situation ? If so, how do you make things work for you ?

cobba

No, I'm sure the landlord would love it if you spread mud throughout the apartment, he'd probably even consider it a privilege to clean up after you.

zeo_max

Yeah yeah I get it . What can I do about it ? I assume many people live in apartments with bikes. I can't be the only one in the world.

yellowjeep

Hmmm well next year I am moving in to my first apt. And I know there will be at least 4 bikes between my roommate and me. But it is not a high rise and there is a quarter carwash a block away so... not really sure. I live in a dorm right now and I keep my bikes in my room (its big for a dorm) If they are really muddy I will lock it outside for a day to let the mud on the tires dry then I will knock it off and bring it in.

Sorry. After reading all of that I realize its not really going to help much.

kmart

I live in a dorm and store my bike inside. If it's muddy I wash it outside with the hose before taking it in. If needed I towel it off before rolling it in (hah). In the room I put corrugated cardboard down under the bike. Works for me.

sirtigersalot

I live on the 8th floor here, my tire mud is almost always dry by the time i'm home cause of the wind up on the roof, so i just bounce my bike on the ground a bit outside to nock all the loose dirt off so i don't track it all around, and i just take my bike in the elevator

the only issue I have is getting all my gear to my car, especially if i'm going to certain trail, carrying shoes/clothes/camelback/gaurds/helmet ect can be tough to do in one trip, but i usually manage with a backpack or w/e

I also commute to class on a bike and sometimes to work, so i'm coming and going with bikes quite often and nobodies ever complained

Pocko

Does the apartment have a lockable utility/maintenance toolshed/gardenshed? Maybe you can arrange to get a key and rent a bike space. When my daughter was at uni her dorm allowed her to do this. She still used a bike lock though even though her bike was inside a locked shed as other people had keys.

ed 

Heck man...you don't need to get the bike dirty. Just take the elevator to the top...ride down the stairs to the bottom...repeat.

junkyard

This will be an issue. Looks like it is time to become a roadie.

ghettocruiser

If you get the bike muddy, see if there is a hose in the parking garage.

Talk to building management before issues arise. Be nice. Buy them beer or something.

I actually got my condo by-law changed to allow bikes back in the day.

There are ways.

jroth

Aside from the mud issue->Always use the service elevator.

junkyard

Take the elevator to the top? Ride down? Real men ride up the stairs.

Freefallman

Get some cheap doormats (the big kind with rubber backing and put them down on the floor). Also buy a pesticide sprayer from the hardware store to clean off your bike. You don't want to take it to a car wash as you will screw up your BB, headset and other assorted lubed pieces. The sprayer is low pressure and relatively controlled. I have one that's about the size of a small watermelon that works great. Goes in the car with me for messy rides.

Edit: Spray your bike after your ride and let it airdry on the trunk rack on your way home.

zeo_max

That has been in my mind all the way. Road bikes are way cleaner.

zeo_max

Nice idea ! That is some real thinking. I will definitely try this. pesticide sprayer it is.

junkyard

Go for it. Nothing has complimented my mountain biking better than road biking.

Pocko

Down forget riding down the stairs! Went down 3 floors that was fun, and I wished it went on for longer but the building wasn't high.

dminor 

I can see it now . . . 2-up Stairwell Mountaincross - - 13 floors .

Pocko

Bursting out the stairwells at the 2nd floor... then out and straight over the top of the lobby overhang... into a massive huck down onto the entrance driveway right next to the water fountain... and over the finish line!

.